Pioneer Valley business calendar for March 1-31

March 1
The eighth annual Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show will be held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center from March 1 to 3.
Pre-conference workshops on March 1 will include a USDA Good Agricultural Practices Training and ideas for effective farmers’ market management.

Retail marketing expert John Stanley will deliver the keynote address on March 2; his topics will include profitable merchandising, display and practical tips for increasing sales.

On March 3, Vermont farmer Ben Hewitt, author of the “The Town that Food Saved,” will discuss the potential that farms and producers have to revitalize their communities and keep money circulating locally.

A trade show of nearly 100 vendors will run March 2 to 3, and will provide information on the latest products and services for the agricultural community.

To register, visit www.harvestnewengland.org
March 2
The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce will host an Arrive @ 5 event from 5 to 7 p.m. at Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, One Atwood Drive, Northampton.

The event costs $10 for members and $15 for guests. RSVP to rsvp@explore
northampton.com

The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will host a Business at Breakfast event from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at Chez Josef at 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam.

Speakers will include Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe and Springfield Police Commissioner Wiliam J Fitchett. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers.

FutureWorks Career Center will celebrate its 15th Anniversary at 2 p.m.
This event will feature formal remarks led by Gov. Deval L. Patrick and Springfield Mayor Dominic J. Sarno. The Western Massachusetts state legislative delegation and members of the Springfield City Council have also been invited to attend.

FutureWorks Career Center serves the job seekers and employers of Hampden County. It assists people involved in looking for work by making career opportunities available, aiding in resume development, upgrading job search skills and by serving as the access point to publicly funded training.

Holyoke Mayor Elaine A. Pluta will present the Holyoke Redevelopment plan at the Mayor’s Industrial Development Advisory Committee meeting 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development at Holyoke Community College.

Attendees will be asked to provide feedback on how the Redevelopment Plan will affect manufacturing in the city.

March 3
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will host Business Plan Basicsfrom 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield. Presented by Allen Kronick of the MSBDC.

This workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business plan development. the registration fee is $35. For more information, go online to www.msbdc.org/wmass
March 4
Hosted by the Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship and Springfield-based diversity newsleader UnityFirst.com, a forum and workshop titled “Transformational Leadership: A Blueprint for Organizational and Individual Success,” will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Western New England College Law and Business Center in Springfield.

Keynote speaker Randy Dobbs, author and protégé of General Electric’s CEO Jack Welch, will offer insights on how individuals, organizations and businesses can drive significant business improvement by adapting to change. Registration is required to attend the forum, which includes a copy of the Randy Dobbs’ book and lunch. To register, call (413) 221-7931 or send an e-mail to: info@unityfirst.com

March 9
The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will host an After 5 networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cafe Lebanon, 60 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow. The cost is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will host “Prospecting, Cold Calls and Sales Oh My!” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St, Springfield. It will be presented by Sheldon Snodgrass, www.SteadySales.com. The registration fee is $40. For more information, go online to www.msbdc.org/wmass

March 10
Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship at Western New England College will host an Information Session: Financing for Small Businesses from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 10 at Eastworks, LLP, 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton.

It will be presented by Leslie Lawrence, Director of Lending, Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund, James Montemayor, vice president for commercial lending, Florence Saving Bank and Edguardo Tarrats, Branch Manager, Small Business Administration.

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register for this event please contact Jackee Gadson at (413) 796-2030 or lawandbusiness@wnec.edu. For more information, visit us at www.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness
March 11
The UMass Family Business Center will host Ann Latham for a workshop on “How to Give and Extract Feedback” on from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Ann Latham creates clarity and she does it as a consultant, master facilitator, speaker, author, and president of Uncommon Clarity Inc., an Easthampton-based consulting firm. Her clients range from global corporate giants like Hitachi to local small businesses and non-profits. Latham is a resident of Westhampton, where she lives with her husband, a teacher at the Williston Northampton School.

It is open to the public but you must register with the UMass Family Business Center. Call 413-545-1567 or email Ira@UMassFBC.com. For more information, visit: UMassFeedback

SCORE will host a series of three workshops on three afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 11, 15 and 22 at the Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center in the Springfield Technical Community College Technology Park in Springfield. The workshop fee is $25 per session for a total $75.

This workshop series is especially for new and existing small business owners who want to create a documented business plan.

March 16
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will present “Be the Authority & Attract More Customers” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St. Springfield. It will be presented by Claudia Gere of Claudia Gere & Co. The registration fee will be $40. For more information, go online to www.msbdc.org/wmass

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will host an After Five event with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce from 5 to 7 p.m. at Magic Wings, 281 Greenfield Road, Deerfield. The cost is $5 for members or $10 for non-members. Contact the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce at 28 Amity St., Amherst, MA 01002, or by phone at (413) 253-0700 or by fax at (413) 256-0771.

March 17St. Patrick’s Day will dawn in Holyoke on March 17th with a Salute Breakfast, traditionally the largest of the year, presented by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House.

The event, starting with a full Irish breakfast, will begin at 7:30 a.m., under the sponsorship of PeoplesBank and Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.

Attorney Jay Driscoll of Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll will serve as greeter. He will be introduced by John Kelley of Peoples United Bank, who will preside.

The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, to be held on March 20, will be in the spotlight, along with the Parade Committee and all winners of committee awards.

The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce will host a St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Pages Loft Restaurant and Events at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Drive, Northampton.

The cost is $17 per person or $170 for a table of 10. RSVP at rsvp@explorenorthampton.com
March 23
The Greater Holyoke Chamebr of Commerce will host a Table Top 2011 Expo and Business Networking Event from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Log Cabin banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.

Make new business contacts and network with colleagues from four area Chambers. The table fee is $100 and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited to one table per business. Electricity is limited and available on a first-come, first served basis. The public is invited to attend and can purchase tickets at $5 each in advance from the chamber, or obtain them at the door for $10 each. Snow date-March 30.

For more information, go to www.holycham.com or at 177 High St. Holyoke, MA 01040-6504, or by phone (413) 534-3376.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will offer “The High Performance Business Owner” from 9 a.m. to noon at Westfield Bank, 141 Elm St. Westfield.

It will be presented by Gerald Sherman, NorthStar Management Partners. The registration fee is $10. For more information, go online to www.msbdc.org/wmass
March 25
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will offer “The Independent Contractor” from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will offer “Web Advertising” from 9 to 11 a.m. at Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. It will be presented by Derek Allard of Gravity Switch.

The registration fee will be $40. For more information, go online to www.msbdc.org/wmass
March 31
The forum Life Sciences in Western Massachusetts: Advancing the Next Generation will now take place March 31. It had been scheduled for Jan. 27, but postponed due to a snow storm. If you are able to attend this new event date, visit our online RSVP form.